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Saturday, 21 April 2018

Having just been through the Easter break, it’s dawned on me that life at home gets very boring, very quick. Normally, I’m a big lover of the upcoming summer holidays as they offer a break from education and let you unwind a bit. However, I’ve recently been a bit worried that spending too much time off will lead to me feeling very bored after about a week or two.

So, bearing that in mind, I started thinking about different ways in which I can keep myself entertained for hours on end - regardless of what the weather’s like. As it turns out, it’s pretty easy to find things to do when you really think about it! So, here are a few of my genius ideas that will keep you entertained for hours and hours without fail:

Get A Netflix Subscription

No doubt a lot of you probably already have access to a streaming subscription of some kind. For me, Netflix is the best because it has a lot of shows worth watching. I can usually find a good series to binge watch and take up hours in a day when I’m really bored. I’m not saying you should stay indoors all day and watch TV, but it’s a great idea for those lazy days where it’s raining outside, and you’ve got nothing else to do. Plus, it’s a nice way of staying entertained in the evenings when you don’t have any other plans. My idea is to make a list of all the series and movies on Netflix that interest you the most, and then make your way through them whenever you’re bored!

Teach Yourself Card Games

It’s amazing how one simple pack of playing cards can present you with hours of fun. There are so many different card games you can teach yourself - some of which only require one player! From the classic snap to more complicated poker games, you’ve got loads of things to learn. What I love about this idea is that it gives you some new games to play with friends if you ever go out or have them around for drinks. Also, the learning process takes up some time as well! So, even before you know how to play, you’re still keeping yourself amused and straying far from the boredom path. What’s more, as it shows on personalisedplayingcards.com, you can get custom decks made too. So, you can personalise your playing card experience to make it even more fun for you and everyone else involved.

Learn How To Cook

If you’re in your twenties, like me, then you should probably know how to cook by now! Unfortunately, it’s fair to say a lot of us have very poor cooking skills. Now, some of you may be on your way to university after this summer, which means you desperately need to learn how to cook. As luck would have it, teaching yourself to cook is a great hobby to undertake during your time off! It takes up a lot of time and is endless fun. You start to learn a valuable life skill, while also improving what you eat. As it shows on greatist.com, there are lots of healthy recipes you can make with hardly any cooking experience. So, spend your time cooking healthy meals, feeling great, and never being bored.

Get Fit

One of the worst things you can do is sit around all day doing nothing. Aside from being endlessly boring, it’s just not great for your health. In fact, it details on medlineplus.gov how dangerous it is to be sedentary and not move around. It leads to many health problems, including excessive weight gain. So, when you have a lot of spare time on your hands, why don’t you do something practical to keep yourself happy and entertained? Join a gym or start doing home workouts whenever you have time to spare. It makes the days go a lot faster and puts you in an incredible mood as well. Combine this with your new healthy cooking skills, and you’ll be amazed at how much your body changes in just a couple of months. If you’re looking for something to do this summer, then why don’t you get fit?!

Find A New Book Series

Reading is a great way to entertain yourself and let the hours melt away. Everyone should read at least one book during the summer - make that your personal mission! For me, I like to find a new book series and then make my way through it. This is a perfect idea for those rainy days as well, or to help you get to sleep at night. There are loads of new and old books out there that are well worth getting your teeth into. Why don’t you pick up a classic series that everyone’s always talking about? Or, fish out the next best thing and choose a new book instead? Either way, reading is good for you and helps you stay entertained.

Learn Another Language

Are you going away in the summer? Well, why don’t you use your spare time wisely and devote a couple of hours a day to learning another language? Heck, even if you don’t go away, it’s still a brilliant idea. Learning a language takes a fair bit of time to do, which is why it’s such a great idea. Plus, there are endless benefits to speaking two or more languages. If you’re thinking more long-term, then being bilingual can open the door to many different career opportunities when you look for work.

I came up with these ideas with the long summer holidays in mind. However, nothing is stopping you from using them at any time in the year. If you ever feel super bored, then think about doing one of the things mentioned on this list. Each one is designed to keep you entertained in different ways, and they’re perfect for certain scenarios. Consequently, don’t sit around doing nothing and feeling depressed because you’re bored. Try one of these ideas, and you’ll feel a lot happier and more fulfilled.

Friday, 20 April 2018

Canada's shine is take away by the power of America. Not to say that it isn’t one of the best places to visit in the world, it’s just that people often forget that Canada can be one of the best holidays you’ll ever have if you actually go there. America is so commercialised and overpriced, whereas Canada has remained true to its own, and it’s actually a fairly cheap holiday once you get the flights out the way with. It’s the perfect destination for solo travellers, couples, and families alike. Here is just a few reasons why.

Unlike America, Canada is actually pretty cheap. There’s so much that you can do without actually having to spend much. First of all, you’ve got the flights. Compared to the flights to America, you’re probably going to be able to save at least a hundred. Plus, the flight really isn’t that bad if you don’t mind long haul flights! Then you’ve got the price of staying there. If you do your shopping around and check out places such as Delta Hotels Halifax, you could be staying for so cheap! Don’t get us wrong there are the places that will charge you an absolute fortune, just like there are in most countries. But for the most part you’ll be staying in some really idyllic places, hardly spending any money on the hotels you’re staying in, and you’ll have an amazing time. You can eat for cheap there too! Whilst it might not be part of America, they sure do make their portions massive, just like you would find in America. There’s the perfect mixture of the big chain restaurants and smaller owned establishments serving home cooked food. We recommend you try out a bit of both!

Exploring

There’s plenty to explore when it comes to Canada. You’ve got the places out in the sticks where you can truly get back to nature. Or you’ve got the places in the big cities that’s just full of things to do. One that has got to be on your hit list is the Banff national park. A place that is full of natural beauty, and one that attracts millions of people each year. It’s famous for its crystal blue lake, shadowed by the mountains showing their reflection in the water. There’s also the CN tower with the amazing restaurant at the top. If you aren’t afraid of heights, then this is definitely the one for you.

Stop Gap Destination

The beautiful thing about Canada is it can be a stop gap destination when you’re on your travels through America. A lot of people like to do the whole state hopping thing, and that’s great! It is pretty hard to get in and out of Canada, you do have to make sure you’re following all the rules and regulations, especially with the things that you’re putting in your suitcase. Don’t think you’ll get away with it. They will find you, and you can potentially get in a lot of trouble for breaking the law!

Friday, 6 April 2018

With summer just around the corner, you might already be thinking about those lazy days spent on the beach or hanging out around the pool. It’s the best time of the year for most people, so it makes sense to start preparing yourself for it. If you’ve been indulging in hearty winter foods over the past few months, you might want to make some changes so that you can take to the beach in complete confidence. Here’s how to get to that stage ASAP.

Most of us now drive to wherever we need to get to, even when the place we’re going to isn’t all that far away. If you can walk there, then why not walk there? It will help you to get active on a daily basis, and you will also have the benefit of getting some fresh air rather than being trapped in that metal box on a busy road. It’s a simple change that has a big impact.

Ditch Convenience

Convenience is one of those things that can really cause you to become lazy and tale the easy route whenever it appears. That’s something that you should fight against, however. If you allow yourself to take the elevator and not the staircase, your fitness problems won’t go away anytime soon. Get into healthy habits and don’t always look for the quick and easy path.

Speak to the Professionals

If you’re struggling with your general health and fitness, it might be a good idea to speak to a professional. Your doctor might be able to give you the advice you need to get back on track. Or you could head to a different type of medical professional if you’re considering something like vaser liposuction. Either way, getting support with your actions and decisions is always a good thing.

Cut Out the Snacking

When it comes to improving your diet, eating three balanced meals per day is often the most easy part. What’s more difficult is cutting out snacking. However, it’s something that you’re definitely going to need to work on if you want lose some weight and get in better shape in time for the arrival of summer in a few months time.

Start Taking Better Care of Your Skin

You will probably want to start taking better care of your skin if you’re planning on showing more of it off during the summer months. Investing in a good moisturiser or body butter you can use to give you the best results all over your body is definitely a good idea. There are lots of options on the market if that’s what you’re looking for.

Summer is not very far away at all now, so don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’ve still got a long time to work on your beach body. All of the ideas that have been mentioned here are healthy and positive, so you don’t need to starve yourself or go overboard when getting yourself ready for summer.

Wednesday, 4 April 2018

Oh it's a new month, and I've already budgeted for this month... It's a tight one! I've recently had some bits of my car stolen that need to be replaced, and then my lovely laptop of 3 years gave on me and I've had to buy a new one. Sooo April is going to be a spending ban month. I have some ways to do this already, some of which I explained in the 'Ways I Save Money' post from last year.

I've managed to sort out a lot of my finances since then, so I have been budgeting a lot better since I came back from Florida. I was able to save a nice big chunk of money for emergencies, and then some extra for holidays and other outings.

I'm doing this post to be accountable to myself, and I can always do an update on it next month!

Things I'm banned from buying this month:

Takeouts

Clothes

Bags

Shoes

Cosmetics

Jewellery

Stationery

I already have money set aside for fuel, food, bills and toiletries, but everything else is banned!

To be honest, I done a half-assed attempt at this last month, and I actually didn't do too bad, but I broke the ban a few times. I have enough clothes, shoes and accessories to last me an apocalypse, and I've bought way too much stationary this year already - thanks HobbyCraft and Paperchase!

I am determined to keep to this for April, so lets see if I can keep it up!

Do you ever do spending bans, and if so, how do you deal with them? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

Monday, 2 April 2018

I was recently introduced to a new greeting card company called LimaLima, who stock some really hilarious greeting cards. There are funny, rude, silly, and even offensives ones - so perfect for the people in your life you enjoy a laugh!

I always think a card is the best part of giving a gift, as it's the personal touch, and you can have any message inside that you want to leave - but the front of the card is what makes the first impression, so they have to be fun and eye-catching. I love nothing more than fun greeting card, as they're a little more personal and entertaining that a usual hallmark one. Here are some that I found really interesting, and offered up a giggle!

For example, if you need a brother birthday card, then this one is perfect and will give you both a laugh when he opens it! I'd love to give this to my step-brother, just to remind him that I am an awesome sister!

If it's an anniversary with your loved one, who you happened to meet on POF, then this is the perfect card for you to use. The colours are really bright on this, so it will definitely stand out. There are a whole range of other anniversary cards available on the website, but this one is so modern that it's perfect for my age group.

A more controversial option, but satirical enough to make even the more stony faced relative smile. This card made me laugh out loud when I saw it, and that oh so famous saying has been twisted! This is something I'm more likely to hand over to a male relative - such as my dad.

And finally, for a cat lover, or someone who will enjoy this fun sense of humor, we have the little birdie card! I have a few cat lover friends who this would be perfect for, but this is one of the generic funny ones that is perfect for anyone.

So please go check out www.limalima.co.uk for wider range of the cards they have on offer! All of the cards are in the £2.50 region - which is a really decent price; plus you can also get mugs and badges from them as well, if you're after a little gift to accompany the card.

What kind of cards do you like to give out for special occasions? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)